Lachlan bent down and offered me the ball, but I shook my head. “You won, so you start with it.”
“So you do know the rules of faeball.” He arched his brows as we made our way back to the center of the field.
“Well, I do listen to you when you talk about it, you know.” I stuck my tongue out. “Let’s play.”
“Can you catch me?” He ruffled his hair, holding onto the ball as if it weighed nothing.
Stepping forward, I touched his lips before trailing my fingers down his chin to his arm. “I already did,” I teased before grabbing the ball and pivoting on my heels.
I took off immediately, not wasting time by looking back at him, but I heard his footsteps close.
“Nice try, but I was expecting that one!” His hand swept through my hair as it flew behind me, and my magic exploded.
My body went incorporeal except for the two hands clutching the ball. It was excruciating to maintain hold of the ball in my hands. All of my hand muscles strained, but I pushed forward. I couldn’t feel my muscles anywhere but in my hands, and they burned as I kept going.
Lachlan whistled as his footsteps slowed. “Damn, tiny fox. That’s impressive.”
I passed the threshold of the field and dropped the ball as my magic sucked back inside of me, and my body materialized.
Lachlan’s arms wound around me, and I was lifted off the ground while he spun me around. “That was so amazing! I’m so proud of you!”
“I’m proud of you too,” Simmons said, making his way over to us.
A few other students had already left, which surprised me. I’d thought Lachlan and I were pretty fast.
“Thank you!” I squeaked as Lachlan set me back on feet. “I’ve been practicing a lot!”
“I can tell. That’s a very useful power you’ve gained control of.”
“I’ve learned how to use my shadow tendril in that form too. It’s a bit harder, but I’ve finally figured it out.”
“Your magic has become more at peace with bonding all of your mates,” he commented, rubbing a hand over his head. “It was like that when I met my mates too.”
A glimpse of blue caught my eye as a butterfly flew between us and landed on my cheek before going on its way, and my magic swirled in excitement from the gesture.
I smiled, watching it flap away toward the forest. “That was a pretty butterfly.”
“Never seen one like it before,” Lachlan said.
I turned back to Simmons, whose face had gone blank. “You two have a tiebreaker. Best of luck.” He turned and shuffled toward another pair of students with tense shoulders.
“What was that about?” I asked Lachlan in a hushed voice, but he shrugged.
“Coach, er, Simmons does that sometimes. Let’s not think too much into it. I have a game to win.” He smirked.
“We’ll see about that!” I bent down and grabbed the ball. “I start with it, and I won’t be letting you have it.”
His laugh enveloped me, and I grinned. It was nice to see Lachlan in his element. He loved this game, and he needed a break from the war just like all of us.
“Give me all you have, tiny fox.”
FIVE
Wren
Rhettinchedcloser,andhis cherry scent wafted over me in a seductive manner. “It feels liberating,” he murmured, his violet gaze locked on my lips.
I shifted on the edge of his desk as he stood between my legs. “You deserve to feel liberated after everything they put you through.”
